This is more good news for the people in the Picher and Cardin areas," Henry said. "We know we still have a long road ahead, but this certainly makes the light at the end of the tunnel significantly brighter."

Calling the process up to this point "long and difficult," the governor also warned of future challenges.

"But we are doing the right thing in delivering relief to the families in the Tar Creek area," he said.

Richard Greene, EPA's regional administrator, said he was pleased to be part of this "monumental occasion."

"This master plan will ensure a coordinated commitment to permanently clean up the Tar Creek Superfund site," Greene said.

"This announcement reaffirms years of hard work by local, tribal, state and federal partners."

He called Inhofe a longtime champion for the communities and said the senator was instrumental in bringing about what he called "this final cleanup plan."

Inhofe in turn shared the credit with Greene, the governor and U.S.

Preparing for a storm

Monday starts Severe Weather Preparedness Week, a statewide effort to bring the attention of Hoosiers to threats posed by tornadoes and thunderstorms.The goal of the week, which ends Friday, is to better educate people about the hazards of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, and to help everyone be prepared should severe weather occur.So families can practice their severe weather safety plans, the National Weather Service will conduct a statewide test of communication systems on Wednesday between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. and between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. If weather postpones Wednesday's drill, a make-up drill will be conducted at the same times on Friday.For additional information on preparedness for severe weather and other emergencies, go to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security Web site at www.in.gov/dhs/3638.htmBefore the storm Develop a plan for you and your family for home, work school and when outdoors.

NASCAR takes wrong turn hopping on Avenue of the Stars

One of the laughable vanities of Southern California sports is the Fontana track's attempts to market itself as NASCAR's show-biz pit stop.

To hear track officials tell it, you could rub elbows with Jack Nicholson in the garage here. Bump into Angelina Jolie in the grandstand. Park next to Tom Cruise.

Apparently, they think we're that gullible.

It's the sort of positioning that probably looks great in memos to the suits at the Florida headquarters of the track's owners. "We'll leverage Hollywood into ticket sales and media buys. We'll sell the glamor!"

Probably .

Crooked Talk on Iraq Cost

McCain once confessed that he doesn't know much about economics. Even he should be able to comprehend the disastrous fiscal effects of the Iraq war, which its proponents originally promised would cost us almost nothing. Perhaps he should ask an economist to calculate the real cost of occupying Iraq for a hundred years, as he imagines—and how many generations will pay dearly for this mistake.